By Danielle Smith

Leader Staff Writer

Things are about to get spooky at Lakeville Elementary as their annual haunted house opens Saturday, Oct. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m.

For $5 per ticket, embrace the chaos of the haunted manor as you work your way through the check-in desk, living room, kitchen and many other nooks and crannies, stumbling upon glimpses of the manor’s past.

This year’s haunted house was put together by volunteers Cheryl Verbeke and Genavieve Burbas, both Oxford residents.

“It’s usually scary. Considering that it’s at an elementary school, it’s scarier than what a lot of people expect,” Verbeke said.

However, for those who would like to keep the fright level to a minimum, fairy godmothers will be available to guide folks through the manor and protect them from the actors lurking in the shadows.

Fairy Godmothers will escort those fearful of being scared so the actors will know not to jump out at them. “They will usually just wave and smile to make it less scary for the kids,” Verbeke said.

While the theme may change each year, the haunted house itself has been a tradition at Lakeville for well over a decade.

“All of the people…just love coming. Nobody else does anything like it,” Burbas said. “I think the kids just look so forward to doing this every year because they are too young to go to an actual haunted house, and it is creepy…so they can come through and just look at scary things and not be scared or they can come through and be scared.”

“Every year, it is a new experience. We might use some of the same props in a different aspect or a different way to make it flow, but every year there are new things,” Verbeke said.

If you’re brave enough to step into the haunted manor, you can purchase your ticket upon arrival.

All proceeds will go to the Lakeville Elementary Parent School Council.

The school is located at 1400 E. Lakeville Rd.